Selectively actuable means for printing heads

ABSTRACT

A printing apparatus is provided including a plurality of heads positioned in linear alignment at a printing station for printing along one dimension of a rectangular array of rows and columns on a surface such as a card. Each head includes a wettable medium for transferring printing solution from a reservoir to the card. A transportable reservoir is provided containing a volatile solution of printing material and having an equal plurality of apertures for receiving the printing heads in sealing engagement. Means are provided for disengaging the reservoir and printing head, for selecting one or more of the printing heads for printing, and for forcing the head into contact with a card which has been advanced to a printing station of the apparatus.

13* United States Patent 1 1 1 1 Tramposch 1 1 May 1, 1973 SELECTIVELY ACTUABLE MEANS 3,371,601 3/1968 Lane ..101 202 x FOR PRINTING HEADS 3,417,689 12/1968 Brethen ...lO1/105 X 3,585,929 6/1971 Gopperton... ..10l/95 Inventor: Herbert Tramposch, Rlverslde, 3,599,229 8/1971 Merrell ...1o1/103 x Conn. 3,599,566 8/1971 Fish ..10l/333 73] A ss1gnee: itney-Bowes, Inc., Stamford, Conn. Primary Examiner wimam B- Penn [22] Filed: Feb. 24, 1971 AttrneyWilliam D. Soltow, Jr., Albert W. Scribner,

[ 1 pp N 7,920 Martin D. Wittstem and Louis A. T1rell1 [57] ABSTRACT [52] l l A printing apparatus is provided including a plurality [51] 'l u "B411 3/00 B411 [/04 of heads positioned in linear alignment at a printing [58] Fleld of Search lOl/l03, l04, )5, Station for printing along one dimension of a rectangu 101/98, 101, 108, 109, 95, 202, 1ar array of rows and columns on a surface such as a 333, 334 card. Each head includes a wettable medium for transferring printing solution from a reservoir to the card. [56] R f r n s Cited A transportable reservoir is provided containing a N volatile solution of printing material and having an UNITED STATES FATE TS equal plurality of apertures for receiving the printing 1,166,667 1/1916 Folger et al. ..101/103 heads in Sealing engagement Means are Provided for 1,265,642 5/1918 Folger et al. ..101/103 iseng ging h r r ir n prin ing hea f r select- 2,065,694 12/1936 Hatcher ..101/103 X ing one or more of the printing heads for printing, and 2,314,828 3/1943 Humphriesi... .....l01/334X for forcing the head into contact with a card which 2,567,289 /1 1 m r X has been advanced to a printing station of the ap- 2,801,583 8 1957 Loushay ..101/108 paratus 3,241,482 3/1966 Keck ..lO1/l03 3,333,536 8/1967 Messersmith 101/333 4 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures T i 12B.

Y 110 112 1 Q) \@s l 124 1 H8116 '26 so H4 8 I20 148 136 [42 O G i 1 161 138 146 134 I 8 I62 l 8 I I58 Q O I 15a- 0 O Patented May 1, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 CD C3 C3 [I] E: [III C] E] CD [I] III! E3 E3 C3 INVENTOR. H ERBERT TRAMDOSCH I l 9 1m ATTORNEY Patented May 1, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 SELECTIVELY ACTUABLE MEANS FOR PRINTING HEADS This invention relates to security systems for credit cards and the like. The invention relates more particularly to apparatus for printing on credit cards identification data which is ordinarily invisible to the naked eye and which is machine readable.

The need for including identification data on credit cards for verifying individual account status is well known. The identification data is preferably formed on the card in a mannerwhich renders the data ordinarily invisible to the naked eye thereby securing it from detection and unauthorized alternations The identification data is also preferably arranged on the card in a manner which is compatible with machine readout of the data. In one credit card security system, the identification data is imprinted by depositing on a card a printing solution of fluorescent particles suspended in a volatile fluid which comprises a solvent for the material from which the card is fabricated. The data is printed as a digital code having a plurality of digits occupying predetermined locations in a rectangular array of rows and columns of a surface of the card. The identification data can then be read automatically by a machine reader which exposes the card to ultra-violet light. A security system of this type is described and claimed in copending U. S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 58,486 which was filed on July 27, 1970 and which is assigned to the assignee of this invention.

lt is desirable that an apparatus for imprinting the identification data by depositing a fluorescent material in solution with a card solvent on the card be relatively noncomplex in order to insure reliability of operation, to prolong the operating life of the apparatus, to enhance the servicability of the apparatus and to reduce its overall cost. The use of a printing solution which includes a highly volatile card material solvent and the transfer of the printing solution to a plurality of predetermined locations on a card are requirements which do not render these ends easily achieved.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved form of printing apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a printing apparatus adapted for printing a plurality of marks at predetermined locations on a record medium with a printing solution containing a highly volatile solvent for the record medium.

Another object of the invention is to provide a printing apparatus for printing on credit cards and the like an identification code which is ordinarily invisible to the naked eye.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a printing apparatus which is relatively simple and noncomplex in selecting one or more digital locations along a dimension in a planar array of digital locations which is to be imprinted.

A further object of the invention is the provision ofa magnetic latching arrangement for selecting one or more of a plurality of printing heads which is to be operated for printing during an operational cycle.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a means for maintaining a printing solution transfer medium in a continuously moistened condition when the solvent to be transferred is relatively volatile.

In accordance with the general features of this invention, a printing apparatus for a credit card security system is provided including a plurality of heads positioned in linear alignment at a printing station for printing along one dimension of a rectangular array of rows and columns on a surface area of a card. Each head includes a wettable medium for transferring printing solution from a reservoir to the card. A transportable reservoir is provided containing a solution of printing material and having an equal plurality of apertures for receiving the printing heads in sealing engagement. Means are provided for disengaging the reservoir and printing head, for selecting one or more of the printing heads for printing, and for forcing the head into contact with a card which has been advanced to a printing station of the apparatus.

In accordance with more particular features of the invention, a plurality of linearly aligned independently selectable printing heads are provided, each having a wettable transfer element for transferring a fluorescent material in solution from areservoir to a card being printed. The reservoir includes an equal plurality of access apertures into which the printing heads extend for wetting the transfer medium during operation and for providing a seal for the reservoir during periods of inoperativeness. A means for actuating one or more of the printing heads includes a mechanical drive having a plurality of linkage members associated with each head and through which motive power is applied for forcing a head into contact with a card. A head selective linkage means having a plurality of linkage members as sociated with each head and exhibiting differing effective lengths in selected and non-selected states is also provided. An electromagnetic latch is also associated with each head and is selectively operated in order to enable printing by establishing a first effective length for the head selective linkage. When the electromagnet for an associated head remains inoperative, a second effective length for the selective linkage-is established which inhibits contact between the printing head and the card.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become apparent with reference to the following specification and to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a printing apparatus constructed in accordance with features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken along lines 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the printing apparatus constructed in accordance with features of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3 illustrating a printing head and reservoir of the apparatus in a home position;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to the view illustrated in FIG. 4 illustrating the printing head and reservoir of the apparatus in an alternate printing position;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of F IG. 3 illustrating alternate positions of selection linkage;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along lines 7--7 of F IG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along lines 8-8 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along lines 9-9 of F IG. 4; and

FIG. is a sectional view taken along lines 10-10 of FIG. 9.

The printing apparatus described herein and illustrated in the drawings comprises an element in a credit card security system of the type described in the aforementioned copending U. S. Pat. Application, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. A credit card transport, which for purposes of clarity in the drawings is not illustrated transports a credit card through various stages of the security system to the printing apparatus. The card includes a surface area for receiving a plurality of digitally coded marks at any of a large number of digital locations defined by a rectangular array of columns and rows. In a particular example, the rectangular array comprises seven rows each extending in the direction ofa generally longer dimension or length of a typical wallet sized credit card and nineteen columns each extending in the direction of a generally shorter dimension or width of the card. A card of this general configuration is advanced with a stepping motion in the direction of its length and one or more of seven printing heads which are aligned along a width of the card is driven into contact with the card and imprints data in a single column during one printing cycle.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 3, the printing apparatus is shown to include a rigid support frame formed by parallel aligned plate frame members and 22 and transverse frame members 24 and 26. This frame, which supports a printing mechanism, described in detail hereinafter, is mounted on and readily aligned with a wall member 27 of the apparatus of the credit card security system through the use of guide pins 28 and 29 (FIG. 2). These guide pins are secured to the wall member 27 of the apparatus and extend through associated tubular guide holes 30 and 31 which are positioned between the frame members 20 and 22 of the printing apparatus..A mounting screw 32 is rotably secured to the frame member22 and extends through an aperture in the frame member 22 to an internally threaded aperture in the wall 27 for securing the frame to the wall 27 in predetermined alignment.

A plurality of seven printing heads identified generally as 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 and 47 (FIG. 3) is provided. The printing heads are linearly aligned for printing along one dimension of a rectangular array of columns and rows. The printing head arrangement illustrated is particularly adapted for printing one column of a rectangular array of seven rows and a plurality of columns determined by the number of digits in the coding system. A printing solution is supplied to the printing heads from a reservoir means which includes an enclosed body 50 having a wicking material 52 extending into the body and packed within the body in order to form a saturated material from which each of the printing heads may be wetted. As indicated in greater detail hereinafter, each head transports a felt wetting material which contacts the wick 52. The wick extends from the reservoir body 50 through tubing 54 into a second reservoir 56 containing a printing solution. The printing solution contained in the reservoir 56 comprises, for example, a luminescent material such as Tinopol SFG (Geigy Chemical Corporation) dissolved in any suitable volatile organic solvent for the plastic material comprising the credit card, with solute concentration ranging up to about 1 percent. A preferred preparation employs methyl ethyl ketone or tetrahydrofuran as the solvent with solute concentrations of about 0.2 percent. The credit card can be formed of PVC or other suitable plastic material. The reservoir body 50 includes cylindrically shaped end segments 58 and 60 acting as journals about which the reservoir body 50 can be rotated. The segments 58 and 60 are seated in semicircular cutouts in the frame members 20 and 22 and are restrained in location by semicircular clamps 62 and 64. When the reservoir 8 body 58 is rotated into a home position as best seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, an insert 66, (FIGS. 9 and 10) one of which is mounted on each of the printing heads 41-47 extends into an associated one of seven apertures 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72 and 73 formed in a wall 74 of the reservoir body 50. Each insert 66 includes a body 76 of wettable material such as felt or cotton which contacts the wick material 52 located within' the reservoir body 50 and absorbs printing solution therefrom. As illustrated in FIG. 10, a head insert 66 extends into an associated aperture in the wall 74 of reservoir body 50 and by extending therein theinsert seals the aperture. This advantageously inhibits the evaporation of the relatively volatile solvent from the reservoir body 50 and additionally removes the wettable body 76 of each insert 66 from the atmosphere. The body 76 would otherwise rapidly dry out and harden after use thereby rendering the printing operation unreliable.

During a printing portion of an operating cycle, the reservoir body 50 is automatically rotated in a clockwise direction from its home position in order to provide clearance for the printing heads which are driven in a counterclockwise direction toward a card 78 (FIG. 5). A mechanism embodying the cooperative operation of the reservoir and printing heads is described in U. S. Pat. Application Ser. No. ll7,9l9 filed Feb. 24, 1971 entitledTrinting System by William W. Coville, filed simultaneously herewith and which is assigned to the assignee of this invention. The reservoir body 50 is secured in its home position by virtue of a force established on this body by a bias coil spring 80 (FIG. 1) which couples at one end to a staionary post 82 mounted on frame member 26. This spring is coupled at another end to a link member 84 of a rotary drive means for the body 50. As indicated, FIG. 1 illustrates the reservoir 50 in its home position. The reservoir 50 is rotated clockwise from the home position to a print position thereby disengaging the apertures 6773 from associated print heads and providing clearance for counterclockwise rotation of the printing heads 41-47. The print position of the body 50 is represented in FIG. I by the broken lines which are identified by reference numeral 86. A cam 88 drives the link 84 toward the right, as viewed in FIG. I, against the resisting force of the spring 80. A drive force is applied through a cam follower 90 which is rotably mounted on a link member 92. The cam 88 as well as other drive cams which are to be described hereinafter is mounted on a drive shaft 94. As best illustrated in FIG. 7, a drive pin 96 extends through the shaft 94 near one end thereof and engages a slot 98 in a primary drive shaft 100. The drive shaft 100 extends through the wall 27 in the apparatus and is driven by a pulley 102 which receives power via a drive belt and motor, not illustrated.

A means for selecting one or more of the printing heads for printing and for driving this head into contact with a card to be imprinted is provided. Each printing head has associated therewith a driving linkage, and a selector linkage. While the driving and selector linkages of printing head 41 will be particularly described, it is understood that each-of the remaining printing heads 42-47 include similar linkages and operate in the same manner. As shown in FIG. 4, the drive linkage for printing head 41 includes links 110 and 112 which are pivotally intercoupled by a pin 114. The location of a pivot point established by the pin 114 is altered during an operational cycle. One end of link 112 is pivotally coupled to a printing head pusher 116 by a pin 118 while another end of the link 110 is pivotally coupled to a u-shaped drive bracket 120. Both the pusher member 116 and a head member 121 are pivoted about a rod 122 which extends between and is secured to the frame members and 22. A coil spring 124 is provided for exerting a force between the pusher member 116 and the head member 121. Rotational movement of the printing head member 121 in a clockwise direction about its pivot point 122 is restricted by a pin stop 126 while a similar pin stop 128 provides rotationalrestraint of the pusher 116 in a clockwise direction therebymaintaining operative contact between said pusher 116 and printing head member 121. A pin 127 extends through the drive link member 110 and through each corresponding drive link member of the other heads. The pm 127 also extends through the U- shaped drive bracket 120. A coil bias spring 130 is coupled to the pin 127 and to a stationary post 132. This spring forces the bracket 120 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction about a pivot pin 134, and maintains a cam follower 136 which is rotably mounted on the bracket 120 in contact with a cam 138. This cam which is mounted on the drive shaft 94 causes clockwise rotational movement of the U-shaped bracket 120 during a print portion of an operating cycle. Thisin turn forces the link member 110 toward the right as viewed in the Figurescausing pivot point 1 14 to move in an arc about pivot point 1.48 which is held fixed in a position determined by whether or not electromagnet 160 to which it is linked is energized as described in more detail hereinbelow. This displacement of pivot point 114 causes rotational movement of the printing head 121.

The extent of the rotational motion of the head 121 is determined by the effective length of a head select linkage. When the select linkage is restricted in movement, the pivot point 114 will be driven in an arc sufficient to cause rotation of the head 121 into contact with the card 78 (FIG. 5). On the other hand, when the select linkage is free to deflect, the pivot point pin 114, moves through an are having an effective radius which is insufficient to rotate the pusher 116 a distance which will effect contact between head and card upon rotation of the drive cam. The select linkage includes a coupling link 140. a hell crank link 142 and a selector link 144. The bell crank link 142 is pivoted about a stationary pin 146 and is pivotally coupled by a pin 148 at one end to the coupling link 140. at another point by a pin 150 to the restraining link 144 and at a third point 152 to a biasing spring 154. The biasing spring 154 which is secured to a stationary pin 156 causes the bell crank to rotate in a counterclockwise direction about the pin 146. However, rotation of the bell crank in a counterclockwise direction is restrained by a bail assembly pin 158 and, when energized, by an electromagnet 160 having an armature 161 thereof which is pivotally coupled to the selector link 144 by a pin 162. During an operative printing cycle, the bail assembly pin 158 which bears against an arm segment of each of the bell cranks will rotate in a counterclockwise direction, as indicated hereinafter, thereby enabling the bell crank 142 to rotate about the pivot pin 146. However, rotation about the pin 146 will occur only for those printing heads having associated electromagnets which remain de-energized. The armature is then free to be withdrawn from the solenoid by the link 144. When an electromagnet is not energized, counterclockwise rotation of the bail pin 158 is accompanied by counterclockwise rotation of an arm segment of the bell crank 142 and the pivot pin 114 will move an amount sufficient for disabling the printing head 121 from striking the card 78 upon rotation of the drive cam 138. On the other hand, when an electromagnet is energized, as illustrated in FIG. 5, then motion of the selector link 144 will be restricted thereby inhibiting rotation of the bell crank'142 and establishing a relatively long effective length for the selector linkage. Rotation of the drive cam 138 under this condition then causes the pin 1 14 to rise and the head 121 to contact and mark the card 78.

ln addition to inhibiting those printing heads which have not been selected from contacting the card 78 by releasing the bell crank 142 for counterclockwise rotation, the bail assembly upon termination of the printing step will rotate in a clockwise direction. This motion forces the bell crank 142 to also rotate in a clockwise direction and return the selector link 144 and electromagneticarmature to its seated position within the electromagnet. Accordingly, in selecting a head for printing, an energized electromagnet 160 need only establish a magnetic field sufficiently intense for providing a force on the armature which counteracts the force exerted on the armature by the link 144. It is therefore not necessary for the electromagnet to exert a relatively large amount of force for causing operative rotation of the elements, but need only establish a force for restricting motion of the armature.

The bail assembly is illustrated in greater detail in FlG. 6. The bail assembly includes a U-shaped bracket 163 which is pivotally coupled to a link 164. The link 164 is in turn pivotally coupled to an operative arm 165 having a cam follower 166 rotably mounted thereon and in engagement with a bail drive cam 168. The arm 165 of the bail assembly is biased in a counterclockwise direction by a spring 170 which is coupled to one end of the arm and to a stationary post 172. As indicated hereinbefore, during one portion of the printing cycle, the bail assembly bracket 163 is rotated about the pivot pin 146 in a counterclockwise direction thereby enabling the bell crank 142 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. During another portion of the printing cycle, the bracket 163 will be driven in a clockwise direction thereby forcing the bell crank 142 to rotate in a clockwise direction against the force of its biasing spring 154 and returning each of the armatures of the electromagnets to their rest position within the solenoids.

A solenoid is associated with each of the printing heads and these solenoids are mounted on the frame cross member 24 in position for coupling to a link of an associated printing head as indicated hereinbefore. Electrical connections are provided for energizing the electromagnets through means of a connector mounted to'lower surfaces of the frame assembly. This connector is illustrated in FIG. 1 and is referred to by reference numeral 180.

The events during an operating cycle occur as follows. During a null portion of the cycle, a card will be stepped by an incremental distance to the head printing station. At this point of time in the cycle, the printing heads and reservoir body 50 are located in their home position and the wettable transfer mediums 66 are wetted. The .bail assembly pin 158 is located in its most clockwise position as illustrated in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 1, the cam 88 will then'cause the reservoir body 50 to rotate out of the path of the printing heads. One or more electromagnets are then energized in accordance with the digital code to be printed. The bail cam 168 rotates thereby causing counterclockwise rotation of the bail pin 158 and rotation of all of the bell cranks for those heads having unenergized electromagnets. As shown in FIG. 5, the drive cam 138 then causes the drive linkages to rotate those heads, whose bell cranks have been restrained, into contact with the card. The cam 138 continues to rotate thereby providing reciprocal motion of the drive linkage and clockwise rotation of the heads to the home-position. The bail pin 158 rotates in a clockwise direction causing each unselected bell crank to rotate thereby returning the armatures to their seated position within the solenoid. Cam 88 rotates the reservoirbody to its home location and the operating cycle is completed. I

Thus areliable and noncomplex arrangement has been provided for selectively printing a plurality of digits with a volatile printing solution at one or more cations in a rectangular array of columns and rows representing a number of code spot locations in a credit card security system. Among the several features enumerated have been the advantageous arrangement for inhibiting evaporation of the printing material and for maintaining the printing head moistened as well as the relatively low power requirements of the described magnetic latch. Also, the printing apparatus of the present invention is adapted to be easily mounted and electrically connected within the overall credit card 7 fabricating system.

While I have described and illustrated a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A printing apparatus: comprising a frame;

a plurality of printing heads movably mounted on said frame for selective actuation from normal positions to print positions and return respectively;

a plurality of drive means for respectively driving said print heads from said normal to said print positions; each of said drive means including a linkage that has two operative conditions so as to effectively enable and disable said drive means whereby said drive means can respectively produce and not produce an operative printing stroke of the associated one of said print heads;

a plurality of control means for controlling the two operative conditions of said linkages respectively; each of said control means including yieldable actuating means urging said control means to a first one of said operative conditions; and

a plurality of selectively operable power means for respectively controlling the operation of said yieldable actuating means whereby selected ones of said drive means are effectively shifted to their other operative conditions.

2. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein each of saidyieldable actuating means includes a spring which is adapted to urge the associated linkage to said first one of its said conditions wherein said drive means will not produce a printing stroke of the associated print head.

3. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said power means includes aplurality of solenoids the armatures of which are respectively coupled to said linkages so as to restrain the action of said yieldable actuating means and thus effectively shift the associated linkages to their said other operative condition.

4. Apparatus as defined by claim 3 wherein the armatures of said solenoids are each normally moved from an energized position to an extended position by said yieldable actuating means when there is to be no printing strokes of the respectively associated print heads and said solenoids are to remain de-energized, and wherein each of said armatures when the associated solenoids are energized is thus retained in said energized position against the action of the associated yieldable actuating means and thereby enable the associated linkages so that each of the respectively as sociated print heads may be driven through an operative printing stroke. 

1. A printing apparatus: comprising a frame; a plurality of printing heads movably mounted on said frame for selective actuation from normal positions to print positions and return respectively; a plurality of drive means for respectively driving said print heads from said normal to said print positions; each of said drive means including a linkage that has two operative conditions so as to effectively enable and disable said drive means whereby said drive means can respectively produce and not produce an operative printing stroke of the associated one of said print heads; a plurality of control means for controlling the two operative conditions of said linkages respectively; each of said control means including yieldable actuating means urging said control means to a first one of said operative conditions; and a plurality of selectively operable power means for respectively controlling the operation of said yieldable actuating means whereby selected ones of said drive means are effectively shifted to their other operative conditions.
 2. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein each of said yieldable actuating means includes a spring which is adapted to urge the associated linkage to said first one of its said conditions wherein said drive means will not produce a printing stroke of the associated print head.
 3. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said power means includes a plurality of solenoids the armatures of which are respectively coupled to said linkages so as to restrain the action of said yieldable actuating means and thus effectively shift the associated linkages to their said other operative condition.
 4. Apparatus as defined by claim 3 wherein the armatures of said solenoids are each normally moved from an energized position to an extended position by said yieldable actuating means when there is to be no printing strokes of the respectively associated print heads and said solenoids are to remain de-energized, and wherein each of said armatures when the associated solenoids are energized is thus retained in said energized position against the action of the associated yieldable actuating means and thereby enable the associated linkages so that each of the respectively associated print heads may be driven through an operative printing stroke. 